More trouble for BJP? Sena seeks NDA meet over PM issue

The Shiv Sena on Wednesday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to clear its stand on the issue of its prime ministerial candidate and demanded that a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance be convened soon.

The BJP ally gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, widely expected to be the BJP’s PM candidate, over the Gujarat riots.

But it warned that if by that if by declaring someone's candidature, allies who have been with BJP faithfully for so many years go away, it will result in a loss of some seats.

Asking the BJP leadership to clear its stand on the prime ministerial candidate, an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna' said, "There is a lot of confusion, there are several wannabes.

"There are squabbles within the NDA on the PM candidate issue. Rajnath Singh, L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj should comment on this and the confusion should be cleared by convening a meeting of the NDA at the earliest," the Sena said.

Speaking on Modi, the editorial said Godhra riots was a reaction to the burning of the Sabarmati Express.

"Had even Keshubhai Patel or Shankarsinh Vaghela been in Modi's place, the reaction would have been the same," it said.

On Modi being projected as the BJP's PM candidate, it said the final call would be taken by the NDA.

In a veiled reference to Modi and the Janata Dal – United, the party said that by declaring someone's candidature, there may be an increase of five to ten seats, but allies who have been with the BJP faithfully for so many years will go away, which will result in a loss of some seats.

The Sena's views come after JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar indicated his opposition to projecting Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

The JD-U has said that the BJP should declare a prime ministerial candidate who has "secular credibility beyond doubt" for the next general election.